Vocalization and percussion are the most important aspects of traditional Native American music. Vocalization takes many forms, ranging from solo and choral song to responsorial, unison and multipart singing. Percussion, especially drums and rattles, are common accompaniment to keep the rhythm steady for the singers, who generally use their native language or non-lexical vocables (nonsense syllables). Traditional music usually begins with slow and steady beats that grow gradually faster and more emphatic, while various flourishes like drum and rattle tremolos shouts and accented patterns add variety and signal changes in performance for singers and dancers.
For the Native American, song is traditionally the chief means of communicating with the supernatural powers, and music is seldom performed for its own sake; definite results, such as the bringing of rain, success in battle, or the curing of the sick, are expected from music. There are three classes of songs—traditional songs, handed down from generation to generation; ceremonial and medicine songs, supposed to be received in dreams; and modern songs, showing the influence of European culture. Songs of heroes are often old, adapted to the occasion by the insertion of the new hero's name. Love songs often are influenced by the music of whites and are regarded as degenerate by many Native Americans.
They also hold singing competitions between tribes to see who can remember more of a song upon hearing it for the first time.
Dances are preformed for numerous reasons and occasions in native american culture. Most dances are preformed for family events, others can be preformed for religious reasons and some are even done just for fun.
Dances are done in a circle because they believe that everything before, during and after life are all connected and the circle shows connection and no end.
Native Americans have a specific dance for many animals, such as wolves, birds, etc. They are all representative of the animal's spirit, showing how Native Americans do believe that animals have a soul/spirit, just as humans do.
Potlach: The Native Americans in western Washington and British Columbia (Canada) have an occasion for dancing, which is the potlach. A potlatch is a community gathering to honor the host or to celebrate family events, such as births and marriages. A dance called Spirit Dancing is performed at potlatch festivals every year. Young men or women "catch" a guardian spirit, sometimes as if in a dream. The young people create their own song and dance to show the spirits of their guardians. New dancers choose costumes and paint their faces before they perform. Other young people who performed their dances in earlier years perform their dance again. Any close relative who remembers the dances from the year before also joins in the dance. Sometimes dancers will take on an animal spirit for a dance with the help of elaborate costumes that help them appear like a raven, a bear, or another animal of their choice. Gifts are given to visitors to thank them for coming and to ask them to remember the new dances for next year.
The Bear Dance: The Great Basin people (from a region including Nevada and parts of Utah, Oregon, and California), including the Utes, Shoshones, and Paiutes enjoy a dance called the Bear Dance. The Bear Dance is performed to ask for enough food for everyone. Another Great Basin dance is the Sun Dance, which focuses on the importance of the sun.
The Blue Corn Dance: The Pueblo of the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Utah and California) have rituals and dances that have to do with farming and the need for water—two things necessary for their survival. One type of Pueblo dance is the blue corn dance. In this dance, the dancers act out the planting, growing, and harvesting of corn. The Hopi perform a snake dance, which lasts for four days. Snakes are caught and held while the people sing and dance. At the end of the festival, the snakes are let go—to take the prayers of the people out into the world and to their spirit friends.
Facts About Native American Dance:
1. Most dances are done by men alone, or by women alone. 2. Many dances are done in a circle. Many Native Americans believe that everything before, during, and after life is connected, with no end, just like a circle. 3. Many dances have names that honro animal, such as the Eagle Dance, Bear Dance, and Rabbit Dance.
Native American Music:
Vocalization and percussion are the most important aspects of traditional Native American music. Vocalization takes many forms, ranging from solo and choral song to responsorial, unison and multipart singing. Percussion, especially drums and rattles, are common accompaniment to keep the rhythm steady for the singers, who generally use their native language or non-lexical vocables (nonsense syllables). Traditional music usually begins with slow and steady beats that grow gradually faster and more emphatic, while various flourishes like drum and rattle tremolos shouts and accented patterns add variety and signal changes in performance for singers and dancers.Read more: Native American music — Infoplease.com
Native American Dance:
http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/cultures/nativedance.html
Dances are preformed for numerous reasons and occasions in native american culture. Most dances are preformed for family events, others can be preformed for religious reasons and some are even done just for fun.
Dances are done in a circle because they believe that everything before, during and after life are all connected and the circle shows connection and no end.
Native Americans have a specific dance for many animals, such as wolves, birds, etc. They are all representative of the animal's spirit, showing how Native Americans do believe that animals have a soul/spirit, just as humans do.
Potlach: The Native Americans in western Washington and British Columbia (Canada) have an occasion for dancing, which is the potlach. A potlatch is a community gathering to honor the host or to celebrate family events, such as births and marriages. A dance called Spirit Dancing is performed at potlatch festivals every year. Young men or women "catch" a guardian spirit, sometimes as if in a dream. The young people create their own song and dance to show the spirits of their guardians. New dancers choose costumes and paint their faces before they perform. Other young people who performed their dances in earlier years perform their dance again. Any close relative who remembers the dances from the year before also joins in the dance. Sometimes dancers will take on an animal spirit for a dance with the help of elaborate costumes that help them appear like a raven, a bear, or another animal of their choice. Gifts are given to visitors to thank them for coming and to ask them to remember the new dances for next year.
The Bear Dance: The Great Basin people (from a region including Nevada and parts of Utah, Oregon, and California), including the Utes, Shoshones, and Paiutes enjoy a dance called the Bear Dance. The Bear Dance is performed to ask for enough food for everyone. Another Great Basin dance is the Sun Dance, which focuses on the importance of the sun.
The Blue Corn Dance: The Pueblo of the Southwest (Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Utah and California) have rituals and dances that have to do with farming and the need for water—two things necessary for their survival. One type of Pueblo dance is the blue corn dance. In this dance, the dancers act out the planting, growing, and harvesting of corn. The Hopi perform a snake dance, which lasts for four days. Snakes are caught and held while the people sing and dance. At the end of the festival, the snakes are let go—to take the prayers of the people out into the world and to their spirit friends.
Facts About Native American Dance:
1. Most dances are done by men alone, or by women alone.2. Many dances are done in a circle. Many Native Americans believe that everything before, during, and after life is connected, with no end, just like a circle.
3. Many dances have names that honro animal, such as the Eagle Dance, Bear Dance, and Rabbit Dance.